The Met Office has recorded record-breaking New Year overnight temperatures in Wales with highs of up to 18.2°C reported.
The forecasting service says 16.5°C was recorded in Bala overnight and Welsh forecaster Derek Brockway said that at 3.40am on New Year's Day the temperature at Llanfairfechan, Conwy, was an incredible 18.2°C.
He added: "The temperature was boosted by a Foehn wind blowing over the mountains. It's not an official weather station but it is operated by retired meteorologist David Lee."
New Year's Eve was the warmest on record in Wales with Hawarden, Flintshire recording 15.0°C while Merryfield in Somerset and Nantwich in Cheshire both recorded 15.8°C – a new UK record for the day.
The previous UK highest on December 31 was 14.8°C at Colwyn Bay, Conwy, in 2011.
It comes after what is likely to have been Britain's dullest December since 1956 with less than 27 hours of sunlight across the country on average.
The Met Office said there had been just 26.6 hours of sunshine over 30 days – 38% less than the national average for this time of year. The figure places last month in the running to become one of the 10 dreariest Decembers on record, forecasters said.
Britain's dullest December was in 1956, when 19.5 hours of sunlight was the national average, while the brightest was in 2001 with 64 hours recorded on average across the UK.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the dull weather was linked to milder temperatures across winter generally, which are likely to be caused by global warming.
"One of the reasons we're getting the dull weather is the fact that it's been so mild. We're drawing in south-westerly wind from the Atlantic and it's also drawing in a lot of moisture. It keeps us warm but it also produces a lot of cloud," he said.
Mr Snell added: "The globe is warming up so we would expect our winters to be milder than they were."
A colder spell is expected by the middle of next week. You can find more details here or use this tool to check your local forecast:
The Met Office forecast for Wales says: " Conditions improve during the afternoon on Saturday with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells developing. Rather windy and very mild. Maximum temperature 13 °C.
"Tonight will be largely dry with clear spells, however an area of organised showers will move eastwards from midnight and these could be heavy at times. Rather breezy and mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
"A dry but cloudy start on Sunday, however rain moving in from the west from mid-morning, becoming locally heavy and accompanied with gusty winds. Conditions improve during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 12 °C.
"Windy with showers on Monday. A band of rain edges south on Tuesday introducing colder conditions later in the day. Cold and frosty morning, turning milder with rain later Wednesday."
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